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Nigeria Flag
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Having
written last week (on the eve of the Nigerian polls) using a rather humorous
title, "Nigeria Decides: Imagine All-night Prayer Vigils For Peaceful UK
Elections," I return with this refreshing and exciting piece.
From
the second stanza of Nigeria's anthem, we sing, "O God of all creation /
Direct our noble cause / Guide our leaders right / Help our youth the truth to
know / In love and honesty to grow / And living just and true / Great lofty
heights attain / To build a nation where peace / And justice shall reign."
The
lines above are almost prophetic to say the least. From the happenings in the
last few days, God must have truly guided President Goodluck Jonathan in the
right way; and from the enthralling manner with which he has acquitted himself,
peace and justice will reign not only in Nigeria but equally reverberate
through the African continent. And if his pleasant mien sends such right
ripples throughout the continent, then he will always deserve our abiding
gratitude.
My
Delight
For
those of us who write about the African continent and deeply desire to see
change, Nigeria has proven a bundle of delight. Yes, there are many things we
can worry about—we are not blind—but we equally have something to celebrate.
This is Africa, and knowing the depressing variables, hence our cause for
calculated celebration. In fact, we have solid grounds to jubilate when a
sitting president is defeated at the polls, and rightly calls the opposition
candidate to congratulate him: Christmas has come early. This noble and
statesman-like gesture has certainly given President Goodluck Jonanthan a
ringing endorsement for the coveted Mo Ibrahim Award.
My
consummate delight does not only stem from the new and shinning track that
Goodluck has beaten by his wonderful gesture. On a higher level, my palpable
joy is rooted in the knowledge of how many lives would have been lost, if he
had rejected the polls, and perhaps incited his supporters to hit the streets.
By
this selfless act which has surely spared several lives and preserved property
amid quelling what would have been certain chaos and disorder; yes, by this
beautiful course that he has taken, he has placed the nation under an
incalculable debt of gratitude, and it is for this I express unbounded delight.
My
Hope
It
remains a sincere hope that president-elect Muhammadu Buhari will also follow
the good example set by President Jonathan, if he fails to deliver and the
people register their dissatisfaction at the next polls. This is a sound hope,
as there are many who neither understand nor abide by the aphorism, "One
good turn deserves another." Let him take the reins and equally relinquish
power should the next polls prove unfavourable to him.
Another
important expectation is for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his campaign
promises. After all, he will not be president-elect if Mr Jonathan's
administration did not merit the fulmination of ordinary folk for widespread
corruption, a lethargic economy, as well as his inability to stem the rising
threat posed by Boko Haram.
While
many are aware of the excesses of his previous rule, in this new
administration, let him revisit his campaign promises and create an enabling
environment for all stakeholders with unprecedented rebuilding of Nigeria's
infrastructure and systems; work towards the protection of the environment from
pollution, restore Nigeria's ecosystems, and invest in natural disaster
solutions, and also address other environmental challenges; initiate sound
fundamental political reform and improve governance, transparency and
accountability; secure the territorial integrity of the nation, and deal with
the plague called Boko Haram; address the issue of corruption and fight to
strengthen the country’s economy amidst pursuing extensive job creation
schemes; focus on building the future of the education, health, youth, sports,
and culture sectors while seeking practical, valuable opportunities for women empowerment;
and also ensure the stabilisation of the naira among other promises.
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Africa Map |
My
Dream
And
right here, I have a dominant dream that the whole of Africa will maintain an
unbreakable commitment to the tenets of democracy. Yes, let's allow the
democratic spirit to flourish within our enabling walls. Other African leaders
should equally emulate the rare statesmanship demonstrated by President
Goodluck Jonathan by upholding the democratic process. And let's learn from the
display of sagacity and maturity of the people of Nigeria at the polls.
I
have a dream that soon the whole of Africa will come not just to fully
understand the idea of democracy but to actually commit to the process in
praxis.
And
like I once wrote on my website and still profess: "I am an unabashed and
avowed believer in the potential inconceivable greatness, the hidden wonder,
the unfathomable blessings, and the immeasurable extent of development that
this wonderful continent can experience. While some will disagree and perhaps
maintain their inveterate opposition by tapping their shaggy old heads,
shrugging their shoulders, and sticking to their uninformed beliefs; I shall
remain a firm believer in the continent of my origin.
"Soon,
what seems to be a gloomy continent shall veritably experience a sure rising of
the sun; one that shall break a certain age-old darkness. And when that
happens, the crepuscular ambience of backwardness will vanish, being overtaken
by a transforming blaze of accelerated development and perdurable change, and
then a truly grand, glorious, and impressive scene will emerge."
Without
any scintilla of equivocality, our task is massive, and our track is steep, but
our resolve for development is strong and unbroken even when we are
overwhelmed, perhaps crushed by colossal issues. Nevertheless, with Nigeria
(our most populous nation) coming of age, in all sincerity, Africa's sun is
surely rising, and for that I shall remain ecstatically exultant.
I
shall return with my talking drums!
Angelina K. Morrison is interested in national development, true religion, and self-improvement. She enjoys thinking, and writes stories only when the muse grips her. Her first short story, Gravellatina is a breathtaking five-part series available now at Amazon. You can email her at angelinakm75@gmail.com, or find her at www.angelinakmorrison.blogspot.com or Facebook page.
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